Car-coupling



(No Mode :1.)

s. GLMACRSH.

GAR COUPLING.

N0.;330,601. Patented Nov. 17, 1885.

i nvenion wail/68865: 'QWW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL G. MARSH, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,601, dated November17, 1885.

Application filed August 21, 1885.

' nying drawings.

My invention relates to that class of carcouplers wherein thecoupling-pin is attached to the outermost end of avertically-reciproeating lever pivoted to a post, which rises from thedraw-bar, and which lever is thrown down, and the couplers connected bythe contact of the entering link with devices operating in connectionwith said reciprocating lever.

The objects sought to be attained by the use of my invention are, first,to secure certainty of operation with the greatest possible degree ofsimplicity of parts and ease of operation: second, to provide means forpreventing the coupling of cars when not desired, and at the same timeafford safe-guards against injury to the coupling devices, as willhereinafter more clearly appear. I

My improvement consists, first, in the combination, with the draw-bar ofa railwaycar, of a vertically-reciprocating lever pivoted to the saiddraw-bar, the outermost end of which carries the coupling-pin while itsopposite end is provided with a spring-catch, so formed and operating,in connection with the entering link and a sliding rod suitably providedtherefor in a recess of the draw-bar, that the lever is actuated, thepin forced down to its place, and the cars coupled, automatically;second, in providing a novel link-guide and shoe, operated verticallyfrom the under side of the draw-bar, its forward end carrying a centrallink-guide projecting forward and downward in such manner as to securethe proper direction and altitude of the link at the moment of coupling,and at the same time afford certain safety to the coupling devices bythe action therewith of the approaching draw-bar, automatically, withoutreference to the operator; third, in providing the coupling devices witha lock-plate, so operated that the cars may be switched from place toplace and the bumper-heads come in contact without Serial No.174,989.(No model.)

danger, either of coupling to a car when not wanted or of injury to thecoupling devices, as will presently appear manifest.

In the drawings, wherein like letters of reference refer to like .parts,Figure 1 represents a top or plan view of my new automatic coupler withthe link held in place, ready for entering the draw-head of another car,for the purpose of attachment thereto. Fig. 2 represents a verticallongitudinal section of the same on nearly a center line. Fig. 3 showsthe shoe and curved guard and guide detached; and Fig. 4 represents ahorizontal longitudinal section near its center, showing the sliding rodD, for actuating the lever by the contacting link L.

G denotes the draw-bar, from the top of which rises the post 1?, towhich is pivoted the vertically reciprocating lever B, the outermost endof which carries the coupling-pin O, and from the opposite extremity ofsaid lever depends the spring-catch a b.

L represents the link, and E the hinged guide and guard or shoeforlifting and holding the link in position while coupling, and E showsthe curved guard and guide with which the hinged shoe is provided foraiding in the work of coupling, and also to afford means, by itsdownwardly-curved hook, for forcing the link-holding device E down outof the way, by reason of its contact with the impinging draw-bar orbumper-head in the act of coupling, or whenever the coupling devicescome in contact with each other or the draw-head of another car. Thehinged shoe E is suitably pivoted to the draw-bar, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, and operated by means of the swinging lever A, or any suitablededevice, requisite reachrods 2 2' being provided for that purpose. So,also, may asuitable lock-plate or equivalent device to that, presentlytobe described, be located on the car end or side and connected to thevertically-reciprocating lever by means provided in its top, near thecoupling-pin, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

D represents the sliding rod, provided with its stop S, having a shortmovement in the recess S of the draw-bar, Fig. 4, and F shows thelock-plate or stop for locking the coupling devices so that they shallnot be operative when not desired.

The mode of operation of my improved coupler is as follows, v-iz: Thelink L is first placed in position, as shown in Fig. 1, and, as the carto be attached approaches, is heldup to a level or nearly -horizontalposition by means of the swinging lever A, the car to be coupledcarrying, meanwhile, the coupling devices in a normal position, (shownin Fig. 2,) the dotted lines therein showing the shoe thrown up, asrepresented in Fig. 1, but without the link, the latter being hererepresented, also by dotted lines, as about to enter the open end of thedraw-head. As will be seen, the end of the entering link, as it impingesagainst the outer end of the rod D, forces that against the catch'a ofthespringshank b, depending from the lever B, which, thus actuated,forces the couplingpin down, where it engages the link, thus connectingthe cars. Should the carelessoperator failto re= lease the lever A att-he proper'moment, the contacting bumper-head engages with the curvedcentral guide and-guard, bywhich means the link-holding deviceisinstantly forced down out of the way, thuseffectually obviating alldanger of accident from'su'ch cause. So, also,

whenever it is desired to lock the'coupling' devices, in orderto-prevent thedanger aris= ing froinaccidentally coupling toa car notwanted, the operator ha'sonly to switch-off, so to speak, his automaticcoupler, by means of thehinged lock-plate F,'-situated just forward ofthe post 1?, Figs. 1 and2. By turningthis to avertical position, thelever B, and

automatic devices are effectually locked, and alldanger from this sourceaverted, as is evident, since the elasticity of the-spring-shank b ofthe lever B-aflords therequis-ite room for V the entering link'to playin and out of the drawbar without inj my to the parts or any danger ofattachment, as is evident.

Having thus fully described and illustrated my invention, what I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the .United States, 1s

1. The draw-head G, and pivoted pin-holder B, provided with spring shankand catch b a, in combination with rod D, all constructed and operatedsubstantially as and for the purpose described. v

2. Thedraw-head G, and pivoted pin-holder 'B, provided with spring shankand catch b a, in

combination with the sliding. rod D and hinged link-guide E,constructed, combined, and operated substantially as and for thepurposes set forth. I

3. The draw-head G,and pivoted pinholder B, provided with springandcat'ch b a, in combination with tlierodD and hinged guide E, providedwith the recurved guard E, con structed, combined, and usedsubstantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

4. The draw-head G, and pivotedpin-holder B, provided with spring andcatch 5 a, in combination with the sliding rod D, hinged guide and guardE, and lock-plate F, the same being constructed, combined, andused insubstantially the manner" and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 7 afiix my signature hereto inthe presence of two witnesses. h v

SAMUEL'G. MARSH.

Witnesses:

FRANK G. REYNOLDS, FRANK W. CLAPP.

